Custom-commissioned for
the living room, an untitled
50-by-60-inch oil painting by
American neoexpressionist
Hunt Slonem depicts a colorful flight of butterflies. Gray
Venetian plaster, providing
the perfect background, was
used to resurface the original
river-rock fireplace. Flexible
seating that accommodates
large gatherings is upholstered
with chenille fabric from Great
Plains, which provides a
durable, neutral backdrop that
doesn’t clash with the vivid
artworks or sweeping vistas.
ArtFul
Outlook
An updated lodge above Beaver
Creek, Colorado, makes an ideal
setting for a new collection
of contemporary art
Story by Norman Kolpas
Photography by Kimberly Gavin
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FACING PAGE: The chestnut dining room table, acquired with the house, was made from an 18th-century
barn door. Above it, a branchlike LED rock-crystal chandelier from Allan Knight Lighting evokes the trees
on view outside. Taupe leather from GH Leathers covers Joseph Company chairs that seat as many as 14
guests. BELOW: A custom-made front door of glass and wrought iron swings open into a foyer showcasing “Palo Verde,” a limited-edition archival pigment print by contemporary photographer Dornith Doherty.
Marie and John Glover love beautiful
art, and they have discerning tastes.
But the Houston-based couple didn’t have works to
spare when they set about remodeling and furnishing the vacation home they purchased in 2012 in
Beaver Creek, Colorado.
They bought the furnished house primarily for its
location: a mountainside lot overlooking the town
and surrounding ski areas. “The view is stunning,”
John says. It had good bones too, with high, lodgestyle beamed ceilings and around 6,000 square feet
of living space—more than enough to accommodate the couple, their three teenage daughters, and
extended family and friends who often gather at
the house for spring break, summer vacations and
holiday-season visits.
There were drawbacks, though. Built in the
1990s, the home’s interiors looked dated and somewhat clichéd, with dark buff-colored walls, a rustic
stone fireplace, animal-themed tiles featuring bears
and beavers in the bathrooms, dark and heavy furniture, insufficient lighting and mullioned windows
that broke up the spectacular views. “We wanted to
update the interiors,” sums up Marie, “blending that
traditional rustic mountain architecture with a more
modern, streamlined look.” >>
Interior Design by CHANDOs INTERIORS
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Construction by Wayne Haskins Construction
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We spent quite a bit of time
“pulling
together a comprehensive
plan for the artwork.”
John Glover
With that overall goal in mind,
the Glovers hired Houston-based interior designer Chandos Dodson Epley to revitalize the home—and in record
time. “They called me in May of 2013 and wanted it ready
by Christmas,” Epley recalls. Unfazed, she came up with
a plan and formed an alliance with local builder Wayne
Haskins, who applied for permits. “We got the go-ahead
on July 23,” Haskins says, “and we had the Glovers back
in the house on December 13.”
Under Epley’s direction, the crew transformed the interiors with simple yet profound changes. An assortment
of wood details in mismatched hues, including solidwalnut interior doors and trims and Douglas-fir beams,
were sanded down and uniformly refinished with a medium-dark brown stain. New furnishings with clean lines
and durable, neutral-toned fabrics were added in flexible
configurations for gatherings small or large. Smooth white
plaster lightened the walls throughout. And the windows
were replaced with triple-paned glass with superb ultraviolet-filtering properties, to showcase the views while keeping the interiors cooler and protected from the sun. >>
FACING PAGE: A passage leading from the living room to
the main staircase was filled in with a wall to create a display
space for “Untitled no. 80,” a multimedia drawing by Andrea
Rosenberg. ABOVE: The powder room features a hand-printed
wallcovering resembling Rorschach inkblots, from Porter Teleo.
RIGHT: “Provateur,” an abstract oil on canvas by Terrell James,
hangs above an antique Swedish chest in the dining room.
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FACING PAGE: The kitchen remains largely as it was, with some cosmetic changes including replastered walls, hand-painted backsplashes, Dornbracht faucets, sleek hardware on existing cabinets, and new Caesarstone counters throughout. BELOW: An awkward, outdated breakfast nook
was replaced with bench-and-chair seating and a freestanding concrete-topped table custom-made by James Dawson. Mounted on the wall above
is “Untitled 80,” a sculpture of stacked marine vinyl strips and bleached walnut by Derrick Velasquez, flanked by bronze Holly Hunt sconces.
Making your Home a Gallery
Interior designer Chandos Dodson Epley shares her tips for showcasing art—no matter the size of your home, collection or budget.
MIX IT UP
For the sake of interest, “concentrate on
having works in a variety of media, such
as paintings on canvas, photography,
drawings, collages and sculptures.”
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CHOOSE FRAMES WISELY
“The frame can make or break a piece,
whether it’s modern or traditional.”
Select something that complements
the work rather than competing with it.
In the case of bold or subtle modern
works, the frame could be so unobtrusive it all but disappears.
KEEP SURROUNDINGS SUBTLE
“A neutral palette and smooth white
plaster walls make the home feel a little
more like a gallery, and enable the art to
be highlighted.”
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“
They asked me to keep the furniture light and neutral ,
Chandos Dodson Epley
providing pops of happy color with the art.
”
BELOW, LEFT: Hanging above the custom-made master bed—dressed with Home Treasures cotton sheets—is “Cubes,” an oil on canvas
by Katsumi Hayakawa. In similar tones, the subtly printed linen fabric for the Roman shades is by Rose Tarlow Melrose House. The rug is
from Creative Flooring in Houston. BELOW, RIGHT: The master bath was streamlined with a freestanding tub, a Calacatta-marble shower
with wrought-iron-and-glass door, Caesarstone counter and a mirror-topped vanity custom-designed by Chandos Dodson Epley.
All these changes created an ideal environment for art. Epley’s separate consultancy, C2 Art Advisors, helped the Glovers select, and in
some cases specifically commission, large-scale contemporary pieces
that perfectly fulfilled their aesthetic tastes while integrating seamlessly into every room. “Marie definitely wanted color in the art,” Epley
says. Adds her client, “I was looking for works that would pop out from
the subdued color scheme.”
The result of all these efforts is a home and art collection that feels as
if it has all come together organically over time, rather than having been
swiftly executed in just under five months. “We took what was already
a really good house and kicked it up to the max,” John says. Concludes
Marie, “It looks warm, inviting and beautiful without seeming ostentatious. Whenever we go back there, it feels really exciting to kick back,
put our feet up and enjoy how wonderful the whole place looks.” o
more
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For a guide to this home’s products and pros, and to see its new
500-square-foot bunk room, visit mountainliving.com/artfuloutlook.
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